Water conservation month kicks off

CEBU, Philippines - To raise awareness of water issues, the Central Cebu River Basin Management Council yesterday launched the Cebu Water Conservation Month Celebration as prelude also of the 2nd Cebu River Summit 2013.

Dubbed as “Rivers alive! Atong sapa, atong ugma!” the whole-day summit will be held today at the Cebu International Convention Center in Mandaue City.

During the launching at the Capitol yesterday, the Metropolitan Cebu Water District presented the state of Cebu’s aquifer and how the river basin could contribute to the preservation of groundwater.

MCWD department manager for Water Resources Knowledge Center, Lazaro Salvacion, explained that rainwater should be contained inland to help prevent saltwater intrusion.

In 2010, the Japan International Cooperation Agency conducted a study on groundwater model to know where the salt water level is now. Salvacion said that a workshop will be held for stakeholders to understand how this model works.

The River Summit today brings together stakeholders for a dialogue about the issue that becomes an urgent task.

It is also the opportunity to foster the collaboration among the stakeholders, showcase best practices and various initiatives in saving Cebu City rivers, present updates through various case findings and unfold the vision for Cebu City Rivers for the coming years.

As a sequel of the summit, the Visayas Water Forum will be held next month by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Cebu City councilor Nida Cabrera is set to file a resolution next week requesting the Department of Education to issue a memorandum to all the schools to participate in the implementation of the programs for water security and sustainability.

Cabrera, chairwoman of the committee on environment, said that this move was decided after a consolidation of ideas from the academe during the Water Security Summit yesterday at the Conference Hall of SM City-Cebu.

Aside from that, Cabrera will also request Mayor Michael Rama to come up with a program for the establishment of gabion dams or water impounding systems in the upland barangays of Cebu City. Gabion dams are seen as one solution to the flooding problem, which usually come from the upland barangays.

She added that there is also a need to strengthen the policy on proper solid waste management so that waste will not go to the rivers.

“Based on the different presenters, among nakita nga we have to strengthen our protected areas, aron mapadayon ug ma-improve nato ang atong water output kay kon daghang kahoy ang atong bukid, maayo ang protection ngadto, less ang garbage, ma-sustain gyud nato ang water security,” Cabrera said.  —/BRP (FREEMAN)